VBAC After Cesarean: Risks, Considerations, and Hospital Policies

Question
Dear Suzette,

I had a vaginal birth 17 years ago and a triplet c-section birth 4 years ago.  I am 5 months pregnant and am being told I can not do a vbac.  I had a "classical" uterine incision for my triplet birth.  I have talked to the Midwives at UCLA and to five OB's.  My perinataligist who delivered the triplets says I am at no risk, but that the hospital has certain policies that do not allow women to deliver vbac unless an OB is present for the entire labor.  I am going again next week to visit the OB that is the head of the OB department at UCLA.  Should I expect his answer to be the same as all the others?  Should I just give up on this idea of having a vbac?

Thanks so much for your time.

Julie

Answer
Julie,
If I were you, you couldn't pay me enough money to try a VBAC with a classical uterine incision scar. You are so much more at risk for a uterine rupture than even a normal low transverse incision. I don't really understand why women would want to tempt their lives? Is it worth it? It seems like you just keep going to these specialist just to find the few that tell you what you want to hear. You have four other children to worry about. What would they do without you? I hope you have a healthy baby. Good luck!